Water vessel stabilization apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus attachable to a docking structure and configured for getting into and out of a small water vessel. The apparatus may comprise a support structure, a handrail, and a vessel retaining arm. The support structure may comprise a support rail fixed via a base to the dock. The handrail may be pivotally attached to the support structure such that in an unfolded configuration, the handrail extends perpendicular to the support rail, and in a folded configuration, the handrail is substantially parallel to the support rail. The vessel retaining arm may be attached to and freely pivot relative to a distal end of the handrail. In the unfolded configuration, the handrail may extend over the water vessel, allowing a user to grasp the horizontal and/or support structures while getting into and out of the water vessel.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for stabilizing a kayak or other small water vessel so that a person can more easily get into and out of the vessel.

2. Related Art

Getting into and out of kayaks and other small water vessels from a dock can be challenging for a number of reasons. First, wind or waves may cause the vessel to float in a direction away from the dock. Second, the user may tip the vessel over or fall out of the vessel while lowering themselves into it. Accordingly, a user may need something to stabilize themselves and/or the vessel as they get into and out of it.

Many different types of devices have been developed in an attempt to alleviate these problems. For example, an overhead assist bar may be mounted between two adjacent docks or sections of a single dock and may be grasped by a user as the user gets into or out of a vessel. However, this requires that the two docks or dock sections be built close enough together that the overhead assist bar of a fixed size can extend therebetween. Moreover, although such bars help a user steady him or herself, they do not help stabilize the vessel itself.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved apparatus that assists a user while getting into and out of a water vessel.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that may be mounted virtually anywhere on a dock, pier, or other structure positioned over a body of water that allows a user to get into and out of a small water vessel, such as a kayak, canoe, jet ski, wave runner, etc. An embodiment of the apparatus may comprise a support structure fixedly secured to a dock, pier, or other structure and a handrail pivotally attached to the support structure. The support structure may comprise a base fixedly secured to the dock or other structure and a support rail extending vertically upward from the base.

The handrail may have a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the handrail may be pivotally attached to the support rail at a point proximate to the base, so that the handrail may pivot between a folded configuration in which the handrail is substantially parallel to the support rail and an unfolded configuration in which the handrail is substantially perpendicular to the support rail.

In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus may further comprise a vessel retaining arm pivotally attached to the distal end of the handrail. The vessel retaining arm may be pivotable between a folded configuration in which the vessel retaining arm is substantially parallel to the handrail and an unfolded configuration in which the vessel retaining arm is substantially perpendicular to the handrail. The apparatus may also be configured such that a length of the handrail and/or the vessel retaining arm may be adjusted via mechanical actuation.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and specifically illustrates use of the apparatus to board a water vessel;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a deployed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a handrail of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a vessel retaining arm of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the deployed configuration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a folded configuration;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the deployed configuration; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method of getting into and out of a water vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus 10 attachable to a dock 12, pier, or other structure that extends over a body of water 14. A user 16 may use the apparatus 10 to get into and out of a small water vessel 18, such as a kayak, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a canoe, a wave runner, or a jet ski. The dock 12, as referenced herein, may be any type of dock, pier, docking structure, or any other structure positioned over the body of water 14. The apparatus 10 broadly includes a support structure 20 attachable to the dock 12, a handrail 22 pivotally attached to the support structure 20, and a vessel retaining arm 24 pivotally attached to the handrail 22.

The support structure 20 may be any rigid part configured to attach to and extend upward from the dock 12. Specifically, the support structure 20 may comprise a base 30 configured to be fixedly secured to the dock 12 and at least one support rail 26,28 extending substantially vertically upward from the base 30. The support structure 20 may further comprise one or more bracing elements 32 and/or a locking mechanism 34, as later described herein.

Each support rail 26,28 may be rigid and elongated, comprising a first end 36 and a second end 38 opposite the first end 36. The support rail 26, 28 may be configured to extend upward, substantially perpendicular to the dock 12. The first end 36 of each support rail 26,28 may be attached to, welded to, and/or integrally formed with the base 30. The support rails 26,28 may have holes 40,42 formed therein or therethrough, configured for pins or other devices to be slid therethrough, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, at least one of the support rails 26,28 may have one or more locking holes 40 formed therethrough, configured to allow a locking pin 44 to be slid therethrough. Furthermore, at least one of the support rails 26,28 may have a pivot hole 42 positioned and configured to allow a pivot pin 46 to be slid therethrough. The locking pin 44 may secure the handrail 22 to the support structure 20 in several different configurations, as later described herein. The pivot pin 46 may extend through both the support structure 20 and the handrail 22, such that the handrail 22 may pivot or rotate about the pivot pin 46. However, in alternative embodiments of the invention, the pivot pin 46 may be fixed to or integrally formed with at least one of the support rails 26,28 and the pivot hole 42 may be omitted.

In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, the support structure 20 may specifically comprise two support rails 26,28 arranged parallel with each other with a space therebetween, such that when the handrail 22 is pivoted toward the support structure 20, the handrail 22 rests between the two support rails 26,28 of the support structure 20. The two support rails 26,28 may be solid throughout or may be substantially hollow and have a square cross-section or any desired cross-section. The two support rails 26,28 may be held parallel with each other by their fixed attachment to the base 30 and/or by a rigid strap 48 fixedly attached or integrally formed to each of the support rails 26,28. For example, the rigid strap 48 may be fixed to the support rails 26,28 at or proximate to the second end 38 of each.

The base 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, 6, and 7, may be configured to be bolted to or otherwise attached at or proximate to an edge of the dock 12. However, any type of base or means of securing the support structure 20 to the dock 12 may be used. The base 30 may be secured to the dock 12 by mechanical fasteners 50, such as bolts, nails, screws, or other mechanical fasteners. In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the base 30 may be an elongated angle rail, which may comprise a first base portion 52 configured to lay on top of the dock 12 and a second base portion 54 extending at a substantially 90-degree angle from the first base portion 52. The first base portion 52 may be attached directly to a top surface of the dock 12, such as by way of the mechanical fasteners 50. Furthermore, the second base portion 54 may be configured to be attached directly to a side of the dock 12, such as by way of the mechanical fasteners 50. In some embodiments of the invention, the base 30 or another component of the apparatus 10 may comprise a lanyard attachment component (not shown) configured to allow a lanyard or rope fixed to the water vessel 18 to attach to the lanyard attachment component, thereby securing the water vessel 18 to the dock 12.

The bracing elements 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 5-7, may extend between the base 30 and one or both of the support rails 26,28. For example, the bracing elements 32 may be fixed to both the base 30 and at least one of the support rails 26,28 at an angle greater than 0-degrees and less than 90-degrees, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. The bracing elements 32 may be arranged in such a manner that the support rail 26,28 is braced, relative to the base 30, against movement forward and backwards as well as movement from side to side.

The locking mechanism 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 5-7, may be any mechanism configured to temporarily fix the handrail 22 in a configuration substantially perpendicular to the support rail or rails 26,28. For example, the locking mechanism 34 may be a rigid component with at least one locking hole 56 formed therethrough and fixed in a position relative to the base such that at least one corresponding locking hole 58 formed into the handrail 22 may be aligned therewith, as later described herein. The locking pin 44 may be configured to be inserted through the locking hole 56 of the locking mechanism 34 and through the locking hole 58 of the handrail 22 in order to prevent the handrail 22 from pivoting relative to the support structure 20. In some embodiments of the invention, the locking mechanism 34 may be fixed to any elements of the support structure 20 and/or the dock 12 and may be sized and shaped to impeded the handrail 22 from pivoting more than 90-degrees relative to the support rails 26,28.

The handrail 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7, may comprise one or more elongated rods 60,62 or any part configured to pivotally attach to the support structure 20 and/or the dock 12 and to extend in a direction away from the dock 12 over the body of water 14. Specifically, the handrail 22 may be configured to extend over the water vessel 18 or any vessel floating in the body of water 14. The handrail 22 may comprise a proximal end 64 configured to be positioned at or nearest to the dock 12 and a distal end 66 opposite of the proximal end 64. The handrail 22 may pivot between a folded configuration generally parallel with the support rail 26,28 and a unfolded configuration generally perpendicular to the support rail 26,28.

The handrail 22 may have a number of holes formed therethrough, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7. Specifically, one of the elongated rods 60,62 of the handrail 22 may have at least one pivot hole 68 formed therethrough and aligned with the pivot hole 42 or holes of the support structure 20, such that the pivot pin 46 may extend through the pivot holes 42,68 of both the support structure 20 and the handrail 22. Furthermore, at least one of the elongated rods 60,62 of the handrail 22 may have the at least one locking hole 58 formed therethrough and configured to align with the locking mechanism's hole(s) 56 while the handrail is in the unfolded configuration and with the locking hole(s) 40 of the support rail(s) 26,28 while the handrail 22 is in its folded configuration.

In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the one or more elongated rods 60,62 of the handrail 22 may comprise a first hollow rod 60 and a second hollow rod 62, wherein the second hollow rod 62 has a smaller cross-section than the first hollow rod 60 and is slidable at least partially into and out of the first hollow rod 60. In this embodiment of the invention, the pivot holes 68 and locking holes 58 of the handrail 22 may be formed through the first hollow rod 60. Alternatively, the pivot holes 68 and locking holes 58 of the handrail 22 may be formed through the second hollow rod 62. The first and second hollow rods 60,62 may each have a substantially square or circular cross-section or any cross-sectional shape desired.

The first hollow rod 60 may have a plurality of length-adjustment holes 70 formed therethrough and spaced at intervals along a length of the first hollow rod 60. The second hollow rod 62 may comprise at least one length-adjustment hole 72 formed therethrough and configured to align with the length-adjustment holes 70 of the first hollow rod 60. Additionally, the handrail 22 may also comprise a spring-biased mechanism 74 resting at least partially within the second hollow rod 62 and at least partially extending through the length-adjustment hole 72 of the second hollow rod 62, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

For example, the spring-biased mechanism 74 may have a spring portion 76 having a first end 78 and a second end 80 and a tab portion 82 attached to or integral with the second end 80 of the spring portion 76. The first end 78 of the spring portion 76 may or may not be fixed to a surface within the second hollow rod 62. The tab portion 82 may extend through the length-adjustment hole 72 of the second hollow rod 62 and at least one of the length-adjustment holes 70 of the first hollow rod 60 when these length-adjustment holes 70,72 are aligned with each other.

When the tab portion 82 is pressed inward toward the spring portion 76, the first hollow rod 60 may be operable to be slid toward or away from the support structure 20 of the apparatus 10 until another of the length-adjustment holes 70 of the first hollow rod 60 aligns with the length adjustment hole 72 of the second hollow rod 62, allowing the tab portion 82 to spring out through the aligned length-adjustment holes 70,72. In alternative embodiments of the invention, not shown herein, there may be aligned length-adjustment holes on two opposing sides of the first hollow rod 60 and/or the second hollow rod 62 and there may be tab portions 82 on each end 78,80 of the spring portion 76, such that simultaneously squeezing both tab portions 82 toward the spring portion 76 is required to adjust the length of the handrail 22.

The handrail 22 may also comprise an attachment part 84, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, fixed to or integrally formed with one of the elongated rods 60,62 at or proximate to the distal end 66 of the handrail 22. For example, the attachment part 84 may be attached to the second hollow rod 62 and may be substantially perpendicular to the second hollow rod 62. The attachment part 84 may comprise at least one retaining arm pivot hole 86 formed therethrough configured to receive a retaining arm pivot pin 88 about which the vessel retaining arm 24 may pivot, as illustrated in FIGS. 5-6. The attachment portion 84 may be also be configured to prevent the vessel retaining arm 24 from pivoting greater than substantially 90-degrees relative to the handrail 22.

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, the retaining arm pivot hole 86 may extend through one of the elongated rods 60,62, such as the second hollow rod 62, and the attachment part 84 may be omitted. However, advantageously, the attachment part 84 allows for the vessel retaining arm 24 to rest a distance apart from and substantially parallel to the handrail 22 when the handrail 22 is in the folded configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The vessel retaining arm 24, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 4-7, may freely pivot relative to the distal end 66 and/or the attachment part 84 of the handrail 22 between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The vessel retaining arm 24 may remain substantially vertical and substantially parallel to the support rails 26,28 as the handrail 22 pivots between its folded and unfolded configurations. In its unfolded configuration, the vessel retaining arm 24 rests at about a 90-degree angle relative to the handrail 22 and extends therefrom in a direction toward the body of water 14. The vessel retaining arm 24 may pivot about the retaining arm pivot pin 88 relative to the handrail 22. The vessel retaining arm 24 may therefore also comprise at least one pivot hole 90 formed therethrough and operable to receive the retaining arm pivot pin 88.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the vessel retaining arm 24 may comprise a third hollow rod 92 and a fourth hollow rod 94 similar in construction and operation to the first hollow rod 60 and the second hollow rod 62 of the handrail 22. Specifically, the third and fourth hollow rods 92,94 may be slidable relative to each other to mechanically lengthen or shorten the vessel retaining arm 24. In one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the fourth hollow rod 94 may have a smaller cross-section than the third hollow rod 92 and may slide into the third hollow rod 92. Furthermore, the third hollow rod 92 may have the vessel retaining arm's pivot hole 90 formed therethrough. Alternatively, the vessel retaining arm's pivot hole 90 may be formed through the fourth hollow rod 94. The third and fourth hollow rods 92,94 may each have a substantially square or circular cross-section or any cross-sectional shape desired.

The third hollow rod 92 may have a plurality of length-adjustment holes 96 formed therethrough and spaced at intervals along a length of the third hollow rod 92. The fourth hollow rod 94 may comprise at least one length-adjustment hole 98 formed therethrough and configured to align with the length-adjustment holes 96 of the third hollow rod 92. Additionally, the vessel retaining arm 24 may also comprise a spring-biased mechanism 100 resting at least partially within the fourth hollow rod 94 and at least partially extending through the length-adjustment hole 98 of the fourth hollow rod 94.

For example, the spring-biased mechanism 100 in the fourth hollow rod 94, as illustrated in FIG. 4, may have a spring portion 102 having a first end 104 and a second end 106 and a tab portion 108 attached to or integral with the second end 106 of the spring portion 102. The first end 104 of the spring portion 102 may or may not be fixed to a surface within the fourth hollow rod 94. The tab portion 108 may extend through the length-adjustment hole 98 of the fourth hollow rod 94 and at least one of the length-adjustment holes 96 of the third hollow rod 92 when these length-adjustment holes 96,98 are aligned with each other. When the tab portion 108 of the vessel retaining arm's spring-biased mechanism 100 is pressed inward toward the spring portion 102 thereof, the fourth hollow rod 94 may be slid toward or away from the handrail 22 of the apparatus 10 until another of the length-adjustment holes 96 of the third hollow rod 92 aligns with the length adjustment hole 98 of the fourth hollow rod 94, allowing the tab portion 108 to spring out through the aligned length-adjustment holes 96,98. In alternative embodiments, not shown herein, there may be alignable length-adjustment holes on two opposing sides of the third hollow rod 92 and/or the fourth hollow rod 94 and there may be tab portions 108 on each end 104,106 of the spring portion 102, such that squeezing both tab portions 108 toward the spring portion 102 is required to adjust the length of the vessel retaining arm 24.

The vessel retaining arm 24 may also comprise a covering portion 110 configured to attach to or be integrally formed with a portion of the fourth hollow rod 94 positioned outward of the third hollow rod 92. The covering portion 110 may also be hollow and may comprise a cross-section large enough to allow the covering portion 110 to slide over the third hollow rod 92 when the fourth hollow rod 94 is slid into the third hollow rod 92, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In some embodiments of the invention, the covering portion 110 may be made of a plastic, rubber, or other water-resistant material, thereby protecting the vessel retaining arm 24 from water damage and protecting the water vessel 18 from being scraped by the vessel retaining arm 24. Specifically, the covering portion 110 may be configured to extend into the body of water 14 and assist in trapping the water vessel 18 between the vessel retaining arm 24 and the dock 12. In an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the fourth hollow rod 94 is pivotally attached to the handrail 22, the covering portion 110 may be attached to or formed integrally with the third hollow rod 92.

The apparatus 10 may be reconfigurable between a folded configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and a fully deployed configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 5. When the apparatus 10 is in its folded configuration, the support structure 20, the handrail 22, and the vessel retaining arm 24 may each rest substantially parallel with each other, as illustrated in FIG. 6, with the handrail 22 in its folded configuration relative to the support structure 20 and the vessel retaining arm 24 in its folded configuration relative to the handrail 22. When the apparatus 10 is in its fully deployed configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 5, the handrail 22 extends outward over the body of water 14 to rest substantially perpendicular relative to both the support structure 20 and to the vessel retaining arm 24, with the handrail 22 in its unfolded configuration relative to the support structure 20 and the vessel retaining arm 24 in its unfolded configuration relative to the handrail 22.

In use, a user may attach the apparatus 10 to an edge of any dock 12 at its base 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6. For example, the first base portion 52 may be attached directly to a top surface of the dock 12 and/or the second base portion 54 may be attached directly to a side surface of the dock 12. The user 16 may also mechanically adjust the lengths or extended lengths of the handrail 22 and of the vessel retaining arm 24 when the apparatus 10 is in the fully-deployed configuration, in the folded configuration, or somewhere between the folded and the fully-deployed configuration. For example, the user 16 may actuate the spring-biased mechanisms 74,100, pressing the one or two tab portions 82,108 toward the spring portions 76,102, as described above, to allow the first and second hollow rods 60,62 and/or the third and fourth hollow rods 92,94 to slide relative to each other by a desired amount.

In particular, a length of the handrail 22 may be adjusted in a direction away from (longer) or closer to (shorter) the support structure 20 of the apparatus 10 in the fully-deployed configuration, as desired, depending on the size of the water vessel 18 over which the handrail 22 is intended to extend. For example, the length of the handrail 22 may be set to a size which will trap the water vessel 18 between the vessel retaining arm 24 and the dock 12, so that the water vessel 18 can not pass therethrough. Furthermore, the vessel retaining arm 24 may extend away from (longer) or toward (shorter) the handrail 22 of the apparatus 10 in the fully-deployed configuration, as desired, depending on the level of the water 14 relative to the dock 12.

To reconfigure the apparatus 10 from the fully-deployed configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, into the folded configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the user 16 may first unlock the handrail 22. Specifically, the user 16 may remove the locking pin 44 from the locking hole 56 formed through the locking mechanism 34. Then the user 16 may lift or pivot the handrail 22 toward the support structure 20. This may cause the vessel retaining arm 24 to also pivot relative to the handrail 22. Additionally or alternatively, the vessel retaining arm 24 may have a locking mechanism (not shown) which will need to be unlocked before it can pivot. In some embodiments of the invention, the handrail 22 may be prevented from pivoting any further by the rigid strap 48. When the handrail 22 contacts the rigid strap 48, at least some of the locking holes 40,58 of the support rail(s) 26,28 and the handrail 22 may be aligned. Then the user may insert the locking pin 44, previously removed from the locking mechanism 34, through the locking holes 40,58 of the support rail(s) 26,28 and the handrail 22, thereby locking the handrail 22 in the folded configuration.

To reconfigure the apparatus 10 from the folded configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 6, into the fully-deployed configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the user 116 may first unlock the handrail 22 from the support rail(s) 26,28. Specifically, the locking pin 44 may be removed from the locking holes 40,58 of the support rail(s) 26,28 and the handrail 22. Then the user 16 may pivot the handrail 22 away from the support rail(s) 26,28 toward the locking mechanism 34. The locking mechanism 34 may be configured to prevent further pivoting of the handrail 22 once the handrail 22 is substantially perpendicular to the support rail(s) 26,28. In this position, the locking holes 58 of the handrail 22 may be aligned with the locking hole(s) 56 of the locking mechanism 34. Then the user 16 may insert the locking pin 44 previously removed from the support rail(s) 26,28 through the locking holes 56,58 of the locking mechanism 34 and the handrail 22.

To use the apparatus 10 to get into the water vessel 18, the user 16 may first pivot the handrail 22 into its unfolded configuration, then place the water vessel 18 into the body of water 14 between the vessel retaining arm 24 and the dock 12, such that the handrail 22 extends over the water vessel 18 in a direction perpendicular to a length of the water vessel 18, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The user 16 may then grasp the support structure 20, the handrail 22, and/or the vessel retaining arm 24 while lowering themselves into the water vessel 18.

The user 16 may then maneuver the water vessel 18 away from the dock 12 and then later return and maneuver the water vessel 18 toward the dock. When the user 16 returns to the dock 12, they may position the water vessel 18 between the vessel retaining arm 24 and the dock 12. Then the user 16 may grasp the support structure 20, the handrail 22, and/or the vessel retaining arm 24 to stabilize themselves as they stand in the water vessel 18 and then step onto the dock 12. Once the user 16 is on the dock 12, they may pivot the handrail 22 and vessel retaining arm 24 back to the folded configuration and then use the locking pin 44, as described above, to retain the apparatus 10 in the folded configuration.

The flow chart of FIG. 8 depicts the steps of an exemplary method 800 of getting into and out of the water vessel 18 using the apparatus 10 in more detail. In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the various blocks may occur out of the order depicted in FIG. 8. For example, two blocks shown in succession in FIG. 8 may in fact be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order depending upon the functionality involved.

The method 800 of using the apparatus 10 attached to the dock 12 to get into and out of the water vessel 18 may comprise the steps of unlocking the handrail 22 from the support structure 20, as depicted in block 802, then pivoting the handrail 22 from its folded configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 6, to its unfolded configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 5, such that the handrail 22 extends over the water vessel 18, as depicted in block 804 and illustrated in FIGS. 1-2. Next, the method 800 may comprise the steps of locking the handrail 22 to the locking mechanism 34 in the fully-deployed configuration, as depicted in block 806, and/or actuating the spring-biased mechanism 74 of the handrail 22 such that the handrail 22 may be reconfigured to span a greater or a shorter distance relative to the dock 12, as depicted in block 808. Additionally, the method 800 may comprise a step of actuating the spring-biased mechanism 100 of the vessel retaining arm 24 such that the vessel retaining arm 24 may be reconfigured to span a greater or a shorter distance relative to the handrail 22, as depicted in block 810.

Then, the method 800 may comprise the steps of grasping the support structure 20, the handrail 22, and/or the vessel retaining arm 24 while simultaneously lowering one's self into the water vessel 18, as depicted in block 812, and maneuvering the water vessel 18 away from the dock 12 and the apparatus 10, as depicted in block 814. The method 800 may further comprise the step of maneuvering the water vessel 18 back toward the dock 12 and the apparatus 10 until the water vessel 18 is positioned beneath the handrail 22 and between the vessel retaining arm 24 and the dock 12, as depicted in block 816. Then, the method 800 may comprise the steps of grasping the support structure 20, the handrail 22, and/or the vessel retaining arm 24 while simultaneously pulling one's self out of the water apparatus 18, as depicted in block 818, and pivoting the handrail 22 back into the folded configuration, as depicted in block 820 and illustrated in FIG. 6. Finally, the method 800 may comprise the step of locking the handrail 22 relative to the support structure 20 in the folded configuration, as depicted in block 822 and illustrated in FIG. 6.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. For example, in some alternative embodiments of the invention, the spring-biased mechanisms 74,100 may be omitted and additional locking pins (not shown) may be inserted through aligned ones of the length-adjustment holes 70,72,96,98 to prevent sliding between the first and second hollow rails 60,62 and/or the third and fourth hollow rails 92,94. 

1. An apparatus mountable to a structure for assisting a user while getting into and out of a water vessel, the apparatus comprising: a support structure including a base configured to be fixedly secured to the structure and a support rail extending upwardly from the base; and a handrail having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally attached to the support structure at a point proximate to the base, so that the handrail may pivot between a folded configuration in which the handrail is substantially parallel to the support rail and an unfolded configuration in which the handrail is substantially perpendicular to the support rail.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vessel retaining arm pivotable relative to the handrail about a point proximate to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is substantially perpendicular to the handrail when the handrail is in the unfolded configuration and is substantially parallel to the handrail when the handrail is in the folded configuration.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an attachment part fixed substantially perpendicular to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is pivotally attached to the attachment part.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handrail further comprises a first hollow rail and a second hollow rail mechanically slidable relative to each other such that a length of the handrail is mechanically adjustable.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vessel retaining arm further comprises a third hollow rail and a fourth hollow rail mechanically slidable relative to each other such that a length of the vessel retaining arm is mechanically adjustable.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to fix the handrail in its unfolded configuration.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises two support rails spaced apart parallel with each other such that the handrail rests between the two support rails in the folded configuration.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a locking pin, wherein the support structure has at least one locking hole formed therethrough and the handrail has at least one locking hole formed therethrough, such that the locking hole of the support structure aligns with the locking hole of the handrail when the apparatus is in the folded configuration, such that the locking pin, when slid into both of the locking holes, retains the apparatus in the folded configuration.
 9. An apparatus mountable to a docking structure for assisting a user while getting into and out of a small water vessel, the apparatus comprising: a support structure including a base configured to be fixedly secured to the docking structure and a support rail extending upwardly from the base; a handrail having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally attached to the support structure at a point proximate to the base so that the handrail may pivot between a folded configuration in which the handrail is substantially parallel to the support rail and an unfolded configuration in which the handrail is substantially perpendicular to the support rail; and a vessel retaining arm pivotable relative to the handrail about a point proximate to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is substantially perpendicular to the handrail when the handrail is in its unfolded configuration and is substantially parallel to the handrail when the handrail is in its folded configuration.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an attachment part fixed substantially perpendicular to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is pivotally attached to the attachment part and the attachment part is configured to prevent the vessel retaining arm from pivoting greater than approximately 90-degrees relative to the handrail.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the handrail further comprises a first hollow rail and a second hollow rail slidable into and out of the first hollow rail such that a length of the handrail is mechanically adjustable by sliding the second hollow rail in at least one of a direction toward and a direction away from the first hollow rail.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first hollow rail and the second hollow rail each comprise at least one length-adjustment hole formed therethrough, wherein the handrail further comprises a spring-biased mechanism positioned within the second hollow rail, the spring-biased mechanism including at least one tab portion configured to extend through the length-adjustment hole of the second hollow rail and through the length-adjustment hole of the first hollow rail when the length-adjustment hole of the first hollow rail is aligned with the length-adjustment hole of the second hollow rail.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the spring-biased mechanism is configured to prevent the second hollow rail from sliding relative to the first hollow rail when the tab portion is extending through the length-adjustment hole of the first hollow rail, and wherein the spring-biased mechanism is configured to allow the second hollow rail to slide relative to the first hollow rail when the tab portion is pushed inward through the length-adjustment hole of the first hollow rail.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the vessel retaining arm further comprises a third hollow rail and a fourth hollow rail slidable into and out of the third hollow rail such that a length of the vessel retaining arm is mechanically adjustable by sliding the fourth hollow rail in at least one of a direction toward and a direction away from the third hollow rail.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to temporarily fix the handrail in the unfolded configuration and configured to prevent the handrail from rotating beyond a substantially 90-degree angle relative to the support structure when the handrail pivots from its folded configuration to its unfolded configuration.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the support structure comprises two support rails spaced apart and substantially parallel with each other such that the handrail rests between the two support rails in the folded configuration.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a rigid strap extends between the two support rails and is configured to prevent the handrail from rotating past the support rails when the handrail pivots from its unfolded configuration to its folded configuration.
 18. An apparatus mountable to a docking structure for assisting a user while getting into and out of a small water vessel, the apparatus comprising: a support structure including a base configured to be fixedly secured to at least one of a top and a side of the docking structure and two support rail extending upwardly from the base; a handrail having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally attached to the support structure at a point proximate to the base so that the handrail may pivot between a folded configuration in which the handrail is substantially parallel to the two support rails and rests between the two support rails, and an unfolded configuration in which the handrail is substantially perpendicular to the two support rails; and a vessel retaining arm pivotable relative to the handrail about a point proximate to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is substantially perpendicular to the handrail when in the handrail is in its unfolded configuration and is substantially parallel to the handrail when the handrail is in its folded configuration, wherein a length of at least one of the handrail and the vessel retaining arm are mechanically adjustable.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising an attachment part fixed substantially perpendicular to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is pivotally attached to the attachment part and the attachment part is configured to prevent the vessel retaining arm from pivoting greater than approximately 90-degrees relative to the handrail.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to temporarily fix the handrail in its unfolded configuration and configured to prevent the handrail from rotating beyond a substantially 90-degree angle relative to the support structure when the handrail pivots from its folded configuration to its unfolded configuration.
 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a rigid strap extends between the two support rails and is configured to prevent the handrail from rotating past the support rails when the handrail pivots from its unfolded configuration to its folded configuration.
 22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the support structure has at least one locking hole formed therethrough and the handrail has at least one locking hole formed therethrough, such that the locking hole of the support structure aligns with the locking hole of the handrail when the apparatus is in the folded configuration, such that a locking pin slid into the aligned locking holes retains the apparatus in the folded configuration. 